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H2O2 to the Rescue (again)

Most people who have kept so zoanthids have witnessed "melting". Typically the polyp closes up, then pinches at the base. After this stage the polyp and colony goes into total meltdown and is usually a total loss.

However, there is a way to potentially save your coral. When you see the polyp beginning to melt remove it from the aquarium, add it to a cup of your aquarium water. Add 1 to 2 caps of drug store hydrogen peroxide. Wait 5 minutes and place back into the aquarium. Polyps will remain closed for up to 24 hours.

In numerous instances I've saved my zoanthids from melting. Just recently this occurred to my PPE polyps, this morning they're all open and look healthy.

Okay, this is interesting. I'm assuming this is done as a "dipping" method? So what is it that you're "sanitizing" it from? Then the next question is why are the zoanthids "melting"? Why hydrogen peroxide? (Which we know kills bad germs as well as good ones.) Would coral rx work? I'm just wondering where did you get this hypothesis from?

H2O2 to the Rescue (again)

Yes exactly, just like any other coral dip. The theory is that the coral gets a bacterial infection that causes the melting. It is thought that the hydrogen peroxide kills the bacteria, preventing any further melting. It will also kill any algae irritating the polyps. Although no one really know what causes the problem to begin with.

In my experience H2O2 does a much better job at stopping polyps from melting than any other product. CoralRX is more geared towards removing pests than stopping issues like zoanthid melting.

It definitely worth doing this dip. Typically when zoas begin to melt there is no saving them. Once that process starts it's extremely difficult to stop but the H2O2 seems to do the trick most of the time.

I have some zoas that a friend gave me, that are bleached and closed up.. They were covered in algae and I kept blowing it off them for a few days with my turkey baster, the algae finally quit growing on them. Ive had them in my tank for a week, one of them opened but its still white.. If I see them start to melt should I dip them in H202